Ighișu Nou Fortified Church
Ighișu Nou, Sibiu County · Transylvania
About Ighișu Nou Fortified Church
At a glance: Monasteries and churches in Ighișu Nou, Sibiu County. The visit takes 30 min. Information verified on 10 October 2026.
Ighișu Nou (Eibesdorf in German) is first recorded in 1305 and lived for centuries from vineyards, grain, cattle breeding and orchards. The village was prosperous enough to afford a richly decorated church and thick defensive walls. The church began as a towerless Gothic hall with a narrow choir in the 14th–15th centuries. At the end of the 15th century the choir was raised with a defensive storey, and a tower was built into the front hall, its staircases hidden in the thickness of the walls. A small octagonal stair turret was added later on the north side.
The Saxons around Mediaș had good stonemasons, and it shows here: blossoming roses on the springers of the tracery windows in the choir and a richly moulded west portal. The western tower still has its hipped roof and timber fighting storey. The church is surrounded by a complete enclosure wall, with the ruins of a fortified granary tower on the north side and a horseshoe-shaped round bastion in the south-east, built in 1515 and raised in the 17th century.
What you can see
You enter through the south side of the enclosure and can walk around the walls, with their loopholes and the round bastion overlooking the slope of the hill. In the choir there are traces of medieval wall paintings from the 14th–15th centuries, discovered relatively recently, under the ribbed vault resting on columns with carved capitals. On the north wall is a tabernacle with plant motifs, above which sits a Vir Dolorum; the same unknown master also worked on the churches at Boian, Dupuș, Valea Viilor and Bazna. A bell cast in 1496 hangs in the tower.
Good to know
Beside the church, in a building within the enclosure, the parish has set up a small museum of objects donated by the Saxon families who left the village. The complex was rehabilitated in 2012–2013 with European funds. We found no official visiting hours: phone the Evangelical parish in Mediaș in advance.
- The western defensive tower, with its hipped roof and timber fighting storey.
- The round bastion of 1515 in the south-east corner of the enclosure.
- Medieval frescoes of the 14th–15th centuries in the choir, under the ribbed vault.
- The stone tabernacle with a Vir Dolorum on the north wall.
- The small museum in the enclosure, with objects donated by the Saxon families who left the village.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Ighișu Nou is ~7 km from the centre of Mediaș (~10 minutes) on asphalt roads; Sibiu is ~60 km away (~1 hour) and Sighișoara ~50 km (~1 hour). Distances are estimates.
Public transport: we found no regular public transport to the village. The nearest major railway station is in Mediaș, from where you continue by taxi.
- Fees & discounts
We found no published visiting charges.
- Rules
Dress and behave as befits a place of worship. Photography outdoors is usually fine; ask first inside. Watch your step on the old stairs and walls, especially with children.
- Facilities
small museum in the enclosure · no other known facilities
Frequently asked questions about Ighișu Nou Fortified Church
- How long does a visit to Ighișu Nou Fortified Church take?
- A visit to Ighișu Nou Fortified Church takes about 30 min (estimate, small enclosure).
- Can you visit Ighișu Nou Fortified Church with kids?
- Yes, Ighișu Nou Fortified Church is suitable for children (grassy yard).
- How do I get to Ighișu Nou Fortified Church?
- Ighișu Nou Fortified Church is located at Strada Școlii, Ighișu Nou, Sibiu County. By car: Ighișu Nou is ~7 km from the centre of Mediaș (~10 minutes) on asphalt roads; Sibiu is ~60 km away (~1 hour) and Sighișoara ~50 km (~1 hour). Distances are estimates. Public transport: we found no regular public transport to the village. The nearest major railway station is in Mediaș, from where you continue by taxi.
- When is the best time to visit Ighișu Nou Fortified Church?
- The best season for Ighișu Nou Fortified Church: All year round.
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